Arthur A. Link was born in Alexander, N.D. in 1914, and attended schools in McKenzie County. Later, he studied farm husbandry at the North Dakota Agricultural College. Link served in the North Dakota House of Representatives from 1946 to 1970, including 14 years as minority floor leader, and as Speaker of the House in 1965. He was also active in township and county affairs, serving as a member of the Randolph Township Board, McKenzie County Welfare Board, and Randolph School Board. Link also served on the county and state Farm Security Administration committees. Link was elected to the 92nd Congress, and served from 1971-1972 as the representative for North Dakota's Second (West) District. This office was eliminated by reapportionment in 1972. In 1972, Link received the Democratic nomination for governor of North Dakota, and held the state's chief executive position until 1981.Grace Johnson grew up in Cartwright, N.D. and married Arthur Link in 1939.